Brain fog

[catching fish]

I have had shocking brain fog for nearly this whole year. I can't function, think, remember, rationalise, problem solve, or feel anything except numbness.

I posted here about 8 months or so claiming that I had brain damage or a brain tumor. Since then I have seen various specialist doctors and had loads of tests. Probably the most conclusive test was a MRI I had, which came back normal and pretty much ruled out a brain tumor and severe brain damage (probably didn't detect mild brain damage from boozing).

Anyway, every single doctor including my psychiatrist has put this down to long term stress (collective word for alot of mental issues) causing my brain to eventually turn on this natural defence mechanism to protect it from the thoughts that used to haunt me.

Personally, I now believe this is the case. At first I thought it was bullshit that those mental issues I have dealt with for a long time could cause this crippling cognitive dysfunction, but apparantly it can happen.

Deep down I know the only chance I have of beating it is by addressing these issues and possibly cutting loose a very important part of my life. When I consider it I go into a panic attack (which is good I guess, at least I can feel something, meaning maybe I'm on the right track). I'm way too scared of losing this part of my life, something for a long time I considered to be the only thing I live for. However that part of my life has now become toxic and is destroying my mind.

I'm sorry this was vague, and also looks like it was written by an 8 year old- but I just can't think straight anymore.

I was just hoping for a bit of advice, or for people to share their similar stories. I don't want to live like this, but it feels like I will never go back to normal.

 

[max_]

Well if you have any sort of idea of what is causing / caused this, then do your best to change it. There's a stress related condition called burn out where you just can't function any more and it's cured just by resting and good therapy. No idea of what you've got but sometimes taking a break for a good while from what's bothering you is all you need.
All I can say is good luck, and try not to use drugs, they're usually a bad choice when it comes to solving/identifying what's wrong.

Edit: Not only the obvious kind of drug which would mess with your understanding, say weed say coke say heroin. Anything that'll act on your CNS is bound to affect your mood/reasoning.

 

[herbavore]

Deep down I know the only chance I have of beating it is by addressing these issues and possibly cutting loose a very important part of my life. When I consider it I go into a panic attack (which is good I guess, at least I can feel something, meaning maybe I'm on the right track). I'm way too scared of losing this part of my life, something for a long time I considered to be the only thing I live for. However that part of my life has now become toxic and is destroying my mind.
I was just hoping for a bit of advice, or for people to share their similar stories. I don't want to live like this, but it feels like I will never go back to normal.

It is hard to give you any advice when I don't know what the "part of your life" that you fear letting go of actually is. It could be a parent that was formerly abusive or an enabling spouse or a drug or a lifestyle--I think you might get a better response if you let people know what that part of your life that you need to give up, is.

As far as the brain-fog goes, I can definitely relate and it can be entirely due to stress, from past events or present. For me, I have had to really take concrete measures like writing lists and posting them in very obvious places in order not to have my whole life fall apart in the fog! Trying to set priorities for each day and sticking to them helps, too.
Try not to over-think this kind of mental fog or over-worry about it--that just compounds the problem. Explore your issues fearlessly and let go of whatever needs letting go of.

 

[catching fish]

It is the love of my life

 

[RhythmSpring]

I am no stranger to brain fog. For the most part, I don't have it anymore. Here are things that helped me that you can also try:

Cutting sugar and carbs from your diet--the more you cut out the merrier.
Abstaining from masturbation and ejaculation.
5HTP
Salvia Divinorum
Figuring out what you're thinking about that you didn't realize you were thinking about (goes hand-in-hand with non-breakthrough Salvia experiences)
Maca
Rhodiola Rosea
Green Tea
Subthreshold doses of psychedelics
Mediation/relaxation

Hope this helps.

 

[theseeker]

I have had shocking brain fog for nearly this whole year. I can't function, think, remember, rationalise, problem solve, or feel anything except numbness.

I posted here about 8 months or so claiming that I had brain damage or a brain tumor. Since then I have seen various specialist doctors and had loads of tests. Probably the most conclusive test was a MRI I had, which came back normal and pretty much ruled out a brain tumor and severe brain damage (probably didn't detect mild brain damage from boozing).

Anyway, every single doctor including my psychiatrist has put this down to long term stress (collective word for alot of mental issues) causing my brain to eventually turn on this natural defence mechanism to protect it from the thoughts that used to haunt me.

Personally, I now believe this is the case. At first I thought it was bullshit that those mental issues I have dealt with for a long time could cause this crippling cognitive dysfunction, but apparantly it can happen.

Deep down I know the only chance I have of beating it is by addressing these issues and possibly cutting loose a very important part of my life. When I consider it I go into a panic attack (which is good I guess, at least I can feel something, meaning maybe I'm on the right track). I'm way too scared of losing this part of my life, something for a long time I considered to be the only thing I live for. However that part of my life has now become toxic and is destroying my mind.

I'm sorry this was vague, and also looks like it was written by an 8 year old- but I just can't think straight anymore.

I was just hoping for a bit of advice, or for people to share their similar stories. I don't want to live like this, but it feels like I will never go back to normal.

Actually, you're writing indicates a person who can organize their thoughts coherently- quite the opposite of how you think you're coming across. I can relate to the fog you're referring to. I recently moved and for some reason immediately developed incredible fatigue, headaches and this stultifying fog over my brain that just wouldn't lift. Me and my Dr found out one of the blood-pressure medicines I was taking was probably the culprit as it had thrown my sodium levels off just enough to interfere with my brain function. It was fucking hell.

Obviously no-one here can really know what's going on with you- but what you describe can certainly be attributed to any number of psychological issues/ maladies. Sometimes people wrongly divide such phenomena into 'psychological' and 'physical' maladies- but your mental health is obviously a reflection of your physical brain function. I'm assuming you've had a complete physical in conjunction with your MRI and that came up normal? Are you now receiving any treatment for your problem? Do you or can you exercise regularly? Even when I was all fogged over- exercise really helped for a little while. It also does wonders for my depression.